Talk:Particular judgment

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Today I almost wrote this lead paragraph over the current one.

In Christian eschatology, particular judgment is the doctrine that immediately after death the eternal destiny of each separated soul is decided by the just judgment of God. In Eastern Orthodox dictrine, the judged soul awaits the Resurrection either in blissful anticipation or dread. In Catholicism, the soul goes immediately to Heaven, Hell, Purgatory and then Heaven, or possibly Limbo. In Protestantism, the soul goes to Heaven or Hell. Particular judgment is the common belief of most Christians, as opposed to the belief that none are judged before the General Judgment, and that the soul is unconscious or that there is no separate spiritual soul that survives death.

I'm trying to incorporate the Eastern Orthodox view into the page so it can be about Christian doctrine instead of about Western Christian doctrine. Here's the tough nut. Is "particular judgment" the belief that one is judged immediately after death, or that one goes to hell/heaven/purgatory immediately after death? The Eastern Orthodox have judgment immediately after death, but you don't go to hell or wherever until the resurrection. Is that particular judgment? Is there a name for the "go to hell now" doctrine or for the "waiting" doctrine? Jonathan Tweet 15:10, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

Father Peter could help you better than I with the academics, but here goes...

I like your rewrite above, Jonathan, but I'm uneasy with "judged soul" and with linking "awaits" to "soul-sleep." The East has never demarcated boundaries as rigidly as the West. An Orthodox Christian expects to be with all other souls in Sheol after the body dies. It's not Limbo or Purgatory or Heaven or Hell. It is the place all spirits exist in the presence of God. Likewise, the experience or "foretaste" of what is called an immediate judgment is more of a realization that our earthly struggle for or against God is concluded. Will the fiery breath of God warm and comfort us, or will it feel as if it burns? Even the great gulf between Lazarus and the rich man is not a physical impediment, but one self-engendered by the hardening of the heart. Think of being compelled to attend an eternal party for someone you either loved or despised... and finding out He really is THAT cool.

I don't think I can make the transition from lame, homespun metaphors to the Great Judgment, so I'll leave you with a few essays:

http://aggreen.net/beliefs/heaven_hell.html http://www.frederica.com/writings/why-we-need-hell.html http://www.philthompson.net/pages/library/riveroffire.html

We'll address praying for the dead another time.

Nice to finally bump into someone I know, Jonathan. The Void's a pretty big place.

Peace.

68.77.94.155 04:49, 21 January 2007 (UTC) Mayor Shinn, RIHS - Class of '82

[edit] POV

This article seems to be pretty POV in statements about how the doctrine of Particular Judgment isn't supported by the Bible. It should lay out what the belief is, not set out to disprove it. A large part of this article seems to contrast Particular with General Judgment. I tagged the article as POV. Kristamaranatha (talk) 21:03, 7 April 2008 (UTC)